5 Reasons Why Regional Parties Need To Unite Against BJP

During the GHMC polls, KCR declared that he would launch a battle against Modi government policies, and Hyderabad would be the stage for an anti-BJP opposition meet. For reasons best known to him, KCR seems to be in no hurry to launch his crusade. But, regional parties across the country are increasingly realising the need for uniting to resist Modi juggernaut. 

1. The Congress has lost steam in waging a battle against BJP. The party lacks a coherent national leadership who can inspire its rank and file, leave alone other opposition parties. The electoral reversals suffered by grand old party strengthened the scepticism over congress resolve and resources to face the saffron onslaught. On the contrary, several regional satraps have demonstrated greater muscular strength to fight BJP. 

2. As the lacklustre Congress fails to attract allies, the regional parties are compelled to evolve into an umbrella platform that can bring them together. The Congress led UPA has shrunk over a period of time. Several regional parties like TRS, BJD, etc. cannot join any congress-led alliance due to local political compulsions. Even parties like SP or TMC are unwilling to accept Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. Thus a confederation of regional forces is mooted. 

3. Unlike in the past, more and more regional parties are increasingly facing the wrath of rising BJP. The TMC, TRS, BJD etc., are likely to face the BJP as the main challenger pushing Congress to the back seat. This makes it imperative for such regional satraps to float a pan India platform to stay relevant in the national elections. With Modi toying with one nation one poll, the national narrative will impact even assembly elections. Thus the regional forces are compelled to present a national political narrative. 

4. The BJP allies have been facing the adverse impact of the party’s expansionist politics. Shiva Sena distanced itself from the BJP as the latter become the dominant player in the saffron combine. The recent Bihar polls saw Nitish Kumar reduced to the status of a junior partner. Akali Dal had to leave NDA with BJP unrelenting on the farm laws. These developments expanded the political space for the non-congress non-BJP political formation of some or other kind. 

5. The BJP’s drive towards centralization is causing heart burn among the regional political players that rule the states. Refusing to pay the GST compensation, centre enacting laws on the state subjects, etc. illustrates the BJP’s antipathy for federalism. Though such developments make it imperative, the idea of the federal front is rocked by several adversities like unifying leadership, common program, and pusillanimous attitude towards BJP, etc. The united front and national front experiment make people vary of any potpourri of political parties. 

By Prof K Nageshwar

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